Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-03-10

just and he walked away toward tho
river pondoring his position. Suddenly
Maun passed him cantcring White
Tom In tho direction Of the western
woodlands. II was growing dusk bat
he could see that her cheeks flushed ne
she smiled and bowed. lie watched
the wilowy figure die away In tho
purple half-ligb. rs he walked on, and
a moment after Judge Bower crossed
him going toward his home.
''Oh, by The by" ho said in his pleas
ant fashion, Mrs. Bower told me to
bring you up II saw you. She wants
TO give you quarter interest In a
quartotte, the other partners being hcr-
self, Celeste and |; expect l ought to
apologize for had forgotten all about
you until now"
John Earling thanked him and hes
itatcd moment; he could not court
eously decline, he thought, besides there
was the singing Of Celeste and her great
blue eyes, and he went homeward with
the Judge.
Mrs. Bower and Celeste were sitting
in the porch, the girl. in u soft muslin
dress, looking exquisite in her clear
ness and purity, John Earling thought.
Mrs. Bower greeted him in her moth
erly way, and Celeste gave him her
hand with touch of shyness, and soon
they all went in aud tried song to-
gethcr. Thcn John Earling begged
that Celeste would sing alone for thcn,
for, though he did not voice II. no
thought it pity to jar and smother so
infinitely fine u voice rs hers with theirs
of coarser timhre. SO Celeste sang n
simple song with touching sweetness,
and the young man fclt his heart move
rs il had long before in the same room
with melody of the Same voice; but
when standing there with her hands
hanging down and caught together be-
fore her and her eyes lifted, she broke
into a soft bird-like Italian carol, and
following its mclodious ripping up
many a crystal flight until az last Il
broke and poured along and ended in
an ecstacy Of passionate joyous feeling,
though he could not understand word
Of it. for a moment he could have
knclt before her, she seemed so fair
and her music moved him so.
After that Judge Bower went to his
library and the three others talked on
for long time; John Earling in his
exaltation leading into the fine fields
of immortality. thought and music, but
everywhere finding Celeste with him
or before him. Ho felt that hcr in
stincts were very subtitle and sweet,
and that her mind was like n spring,
clear, deep and boitomlcss TO him, but
full Of light and sparkles. Ali here
was n soul that matched his own, \
spirit that could feed him and be fed,
but he could only half perceive it. As
he walked away through the starlight
he thought of her life aud how il had
been shut away from him, and tried to
picture to himself how il had been
chastcned and well-nigh broken; OF
how she had lost her mother two years
before, aud what had been the manner
Of her life since, for he had learned that
she supported herself teaching in a
school of Music imam Eastern city; of
what influeacca had been about her,
what tomptatiooS what sorrows, what
strengthening beauifying forces, that
she. though young. should have como
so far upon the lovely road Of woman
hood. lie saw. or rather felt, through
her songs and conversation into her
heart and knew, withoat shaping II
into a distinctly conscious thought,
that her maiden soul WAC deep and
lucent. aud capable Of feeling far into
tho spiritual, far rs indeed 10 other
thing in this world save woman S
spirit may. Thus turning over in his
mind half consciously the things that
touched her. he came into the heart Of
the town when suddenly in his rumiu-
ating his blood gave a bound, for some
one on horse pulled up in the road
and said; "Earling, have you seen any
thing Of Mauu WOodman?"
In an instant his thoughts Of Celeste
were swept away. and the young man
WIS by his interrogation, and saw that
il was one Of the old lawyers neigh
bors. whats the matter, Mr.. Sher-
man?" he said.
white Tom has come home with
blood on him. and we can't find
Maun!' said the man. painting as II he
had been riding hard.
With a thrill of indescribable fear
and horror Johh Earling looked
at him. "rll be at her fathers in
moment" he said, and turning
about went quickly into a livery-stable.
"Give me horse as soon as you can" "
he said TO n sleepy young man. who.
tipped back in q chair in the dingy har-
ness-room, was reading a dirty Police
Gdzetie by dirty, but not equally dirty.
lamp. The Young man yawned, took
up a half-consumcd cigar from the
rough desk, and looked up at the impa-
tient speaker: "Wat you want 'erfur?"
lie drawled.
John Earling gave him a blazing
glance: II want the horse to try and
find lost child with, 'hc said. "Please
hurry. sir!"
Whose young 'uns lost?n drawlcd
the loutish youth, leaning forward with
elbows ON his knees.
For answer John Earling in his I'm
patient ire caught down saddle and
bridle from one Of the hooks in the wall
and flashed back among the stalls and
threw the saddle on the Grst horse he
came 20. He brought the horse out
quickly, pulling the halter from its
head and forcing the bit into its mouth
ho buckled the throat-latch as the
sleepy youth came up lantern in hand
'Herc, you," exclaimed that worthy,
putting out his hand toward the rein,
lyon don't want ter take that hoss.
misterl'
Without n word John Earring in his
anger whirled about and flung the fel-
low hoadlong against the wall. and
leaping on the frightened horse struck
his heels into it aud went flying out Of
the barn and up the street.
"Gummy mndl what kind Of Wild
cat fool i that?n exclaimed the slow
moving youth rs he got himself and
lantern together. pose he's steal
in tn hosp" and he stood a moment
with his mouth hanging open. staring
before him. Then be went grumbling
TO the proprietOr's house. few doors
away. and told him the incident That
gentleman asked who il was that got
tho horso aud whom tho elcpnv voufb